Why Guia Fortress is special ?

The Guia Fortress(Portuguese: Fortaleza da Guia; Chinese: 東望洋炮台) is a historical military fort, chapel, and lighthouse complex in the St. Lazarus Parish. The complex is a UNESCO World Heritage Site as part of the Historic Centre of Macau. The fort and chapel were constructed between 1622 and 1638, after an unsuccessful attempt by the Netherlands to capture Macau from Portugal. The lighthouse was constructed between 1864 and 1865, the first western style lighthouse in east Asia or on the China coast. The lighthouse stands at 91 meters tall, and has a light visible for some 20 miles in clear weather conditions. The complex was built upon the highest point on Macau, Guia Hill, and named after the same location. Today, the site is a tourist destination.

What to explore at Guia Fortress?

Guia Fortress has a trapezoidal plan covering an area of around 800 square metres. The lighthouse located within it, is a 15-metre-high tower with a diameter of 7 metres at the base narrowing upwards to 5 metres.

At the top, there is a circular observation platform, where the lantern is installed. The light transmitter is accessed by a spiral flight of stairs inside. The tower has a simple rustic exterior, in keeping with Guia Chapel lying adjacent. The church has a simple façade, with a triangular pediment on pilasters finished in yellow rendering that contrasts with the unadorned white building. The chapel nave measures 16 by 4.7 metres, with thick bearing walls supporting the interior vaulting, further strengthened by buttresses running along the perimeter of the building.

Inside, the sacristy is located on the left of the chancel and a small choir is located over the entrance. The roof is covered with traditional reddish ceramic tiles.

How to get to Guia Fortress?

The easiest way of getting to Guia Hill is through Avenida Sidonio Pais to Flora Garden (Jardim da Flora) and the lower cable car station:

The bus stop is on Avenida Sidonio Pais (near the park-entrance)

If coming directly from Lou Lim Leoc Garden and the Tea Cultural Museum: Cross Avenida do Conselheiro Ferreira de Almeida, enter Estrada de Adolfo Loureiro and, at its end, turn left to Avenida Sidonio Pais (walk along it for a few minutes till you see the entrance to the park on your right).

Location

Tips for you

There is a Guia Cable Car to the top of Guia Hill, which runs from 8am to 6pm from Tuesday to Sunday. Tourist can take it from the entrance of Flora Garden (Jardim da Flora), off Avenida de Sidónio Pais.

Transportation

You can see the whole of Macau city view and you will enjoy the quietness away from city life.

What to see

You should use comfortable shoes, bring some mineral water, camera and comfortable clothing and you ready to go and enjoy this place

What to bring

If you go with old folks, you may need to stop a few times as the slope up can be challenging.

Experience

You follow the signboard and walk up the slope towards the lighthouse.

Experience

It is a nice easy walk up to the peak if you take it slowly.

Experience

Guia Lighthouse only opens to the public on May 20 each year.

Timming

Note that the fortress and lighthouse close at 5:30pm (or 4:30) and the underground tunnels close half an hour prior

Reviews

My friend and I saw the lighthouse from a square and decided to trek to it as it looked interesting. It took us awhile to figure out how to get to it but it was so worth it! The fortress and lighthouse were nice and as a bonus it in the middle of a huge park and recreational area with many different activities and venues. It is on a huge hill that has a running track and you can get amazing views from all around. Definitely worth a visit note the fortress and lighthouse close at 5:30pm (or 4:30) can't remember for sure and the underground tunnels close half an hour prior. We were too late to see the tunnels but managed to see the fortress and lighthouse.

Guia Fortress is a 17th-century colonial military fort, chapel, and lighthouse complex, be part of the World Heritage Site.
Fort and chapel were constructed between 1622 and 1638, after an unsuccessful attempt by the Netherlands to capture colonial Portuguese Macau from Portugal.
It list on 17th -century oldest buildings and structures in Macau as Monte Fort House,
Fortress of Our Lady of Bom Parto, Fortress of São Tiago da Barra, Holy House of Mercy and Casa gardens.
On top you can see Macau view and see mixed old and new building. Try imagination retun ancient time with information, pictures that you seen in museum, books and get refreshable air for going on next your activities
Free and Open daily from 9-18
no entrance in building and no picture in ancient chapel
There are samll tunnel museum inside on foot of fort but temporary closed
There are 3 way get here
1. By cable car (2 mop/1 single and 3 mop/ return) from entrance Flora garden then take 2 mins at car and walk 15 mins to there.
2 By walking from entrance Flora garden and take walking around 25 mins.
3. Best way and not tried iis short walking 10 mins from Calcada do Giao or Calcada do Victoria (near Royal Hotel or Vasco da Cama Garden)

You have to walk up a slope to reach the lighthouse. At the base, you will see some locals who just finished their exercise as they may have run or brisk walk around the park. You follow the signboard and walk up the slope towards the lighthouse. If you go with old folks, you may need to stop a few times as the slope up can be challenging. However, I feel that the view is worth it. I also find the symbols hang by the lighthouse to inform the locals of the different level of seriousness of typhoon very interesting. You will find that they cut the scrubs around the lighthouse into shapes of zodiac animals. From the lighthouse, you can see the whole of Macau city view and you will enjoy the quietness away from city life. Although it is a small place, it is worth the walk up.